Fiberglass Vs Cellulose Insulation For Attics

Cellulose forms a dense continuous mat of insulation in your attic.

Fiberglass vs cellulose insulation for attics.

Cellulose insulation is considered a greener material than fiberglass. Overall both materials improve the energy efficiency of your home but do so in different ways. Cellulose insulation is considered a greener material than fiberglass and being made of paper does not pose any health issues to the installer or home occupants. You can now purchase fiberglass batt insulation that has a combination plastic and kraft paper covering.

Rather than trying to meticulously lay fiberglass insulation over the attic homeowners and builders can simply blow cellulose insulation throughout the attic. When tested at 110 cellulose will retain 97 of the listed r value while fiberglass loses 12 or more. Like cellulose you need a big machine to blow it in. The back side usually has small perforations in the plastic to prevent the buildup of water vapor within the insulation.

If you check with the cellulose insulation manufacturers association they ll assure you that cellulose is definitely your best choice for insulation. Sources many fiberglass installers fluff the fiber with extra air so you don t get as much insulation as you re supposed to. It does not pollute the air during manufacture or use as much energy to produce as fiberglass. At sub zero temps the r value of cellulose improves where fiberglass will lose half of its stated r value.

Thus creating a more energy efficient home. It is made from paper that has a minimum of 85 recycled content such as newspaper. Cellulose insulation is made primarily from recycled newspaper. Loose fill fiberglass seems to dominate attic insulation in new construction homes and has an r value of approximately 2 5 per inch.

Both fibreglass and cellulose are the two most inexpensive insulation products that you could use. Blown insulation for attics. Or 7 inches of cellulose. Cellulose provides better sound insulation than fiberglass i e homes are less noisy with it.

Fiberglass is a suspected carcinogen. Assuming your current attic insulation is made from fiberglass and has a value of r 13 you d have to add roughly 10 inches of additional fiberglass to hit r 38. Fibreglass is perhaps the most common product available in the market for insulation outpacing its close competitor cellulose by 50 1. Yes newspaper is very flammable.

Framing members aren t always spaced per fectly and it s awkward to fit batts into irregularly shaped cavities and around electrical wires and boxes. You can get to the same place with either material. Cellulose has 38 better air infiltration than fiberglass. Cellulose f iberglass batt insulation is inexpensive but difficult to install well.